Security forces kill terrorists, recover weapons in Kebbi raid

A combined force of the Kebbi State police command and the military has neutralised suspected terrorist elements during a joint clearance operation at Gumki Forest in Kangiwa, Arewa Local Government Area of the state.

The operation, conducted at about 6:05 am on Monday, September 14, 2026, also led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and other items allegedly belonging to the criminal elements.

Statements by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman and spokesman of the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt Col Olaniyi Osoba, confirmed the raid.

Gumki Forest, near the Nigeria-Niger border, is a known route used by bandits and Lakurawa elements operating in the area.

According to the police statement, the joint team engaged the terrorists during the clearance operation and successfully neutralised some of them.

Items recovered from the operation included one PKT rifle with 174 rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds of ammunition, two mobile phones, four motorcycles, a pair of military camouflage uniforms, a pair of boots and charms.

“During the operation, the joint team successfully engaged and neutralised terrorist elements operating within the area,” Usman said.

He added that the area remained relatively calm, while security forces continued clearance operations aimed at eliminating criminal elements from the forest and surrounding communities.

In his statement, Osoba said troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, while advancing through identified terrorist enclaves, made contact with the terrorists and engaged them with superior firepower.

“Troops engaged the terrorist elements with superior firepower, eliminating several terrorists while others abandoned their positions and fled into the deep forest,” he said.

He said a follow-up operation and thorough search of the area led to the recovery of a PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of 7.62 x 54mm belted ammunition and 7.62mm special ammunition.

Other recovered items, according to Osoba, included four motorcycles, two smartphones, N87,000 cash and assorted combat and miscellaneous items.

The Army spokesman said the operation was part of ongoing offensive operations aimed at clearing terrorist enclaves and restoring security in affected communities.

The Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Umar M. Hadejia, commended the operatives for what he described as their gallantry and dedication to duty.

Hadejia said the command would sustain coordinated and intelligence-led operations with other security agencies to tackle banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminality across the state.

He also urged residents to support security agencies by providing “timely and credible information” that could assist ongoing operations.

The police assured residents that joint security operations would continue in the area until criminal elements are completely cleared from the forest and its adjoining routes.